Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich listens to a question at a news conference at Fort Lee, N.J., City Hall, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Sokolich called it 'appalling' that traffic jams appear to have been deliberately created at the George Washington Bridge for three days in September 2013. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in an attempt to avoid damage from a scandal that could undermine his presidential prospects, said Thursday he has fired a top aide who apparently created traffic jams as part of a political vendetta. Christie denied any knowledge of the scheme. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) / AP

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich arrives for a news conference at Fort Lee, N.J., City Hall, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Sokolich called it 'appalling' that traffic jams appear to have been deliberately created at the George Washington Bridge for three days in September 2013. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in an attempt to avoid damage from a scandal that could undermine his presidential prospects, said Thursday he has fired a top aide who apparently created traffic jams as part of a political vendetta. Christie denied any knowledge of the scheme. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) / AP

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2014 file photo, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich addresses a news conference at Fort Lee, N.J., City Hall. Many people have known little about Fort Lee until a political scandal centering on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie enveloped the borough. Now for residents of the New York City bedroom community defined by both a feisty pride and frustration over the mixed blessings of proximity to the George Washington Bridge, the scandal is the reminder they did not need of how the bridge dictates the rhythm of everyday life. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) / AP

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, second from right, addresses a news conference at Fort Lee, N.J., City Hall, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Sokolich called it 'appalling' that the traffic jams appear to have been deliberately created at the George Washington Bridge for three days in September 2013. Chris Christie, in an attempt to avoid damage from a scandal that could undermine his presidential prospects, said Thursday he has fired a top aide who apparently created traffic jams as part of a political vendetta. Christie denied any knowledge of the scheme. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) / AP

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, left, introduces city officials during a news conference at Fort Lee, N.J., City Hall, including EMS Coordinator Paul Favia, right, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Sokolich called it 'appalling' that the traffic jams appear to have been deliberately created at the George Washington Bridge for three days in September 2013. Chris Christie, in an attempt to avoid damage from a scandal that could undermine his presidential prospects, said Thursday he has fired a top aide who apparently created traffic jams as part of a political vendetta. Christie denied any knowledge of the scheme. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) / AP

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FORT LEE — Gov. Chris Christie spent 40 minutes meeting with the borough’s mayor to apologize for politically motivated lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, but some residents and merchants said more needs to be done to repay the community for the hardship.

Mayor Mark Sokolich said he accepted Christie’s apology, calling his Thursday afternoon meeting with the governor cordial and productive, but added “my concern is making sure that it never happens again in Fort Lee.”

Sokolich, who earlier in the day said he wouldn’t meet with the governor, said he appreciated the governor’s effort and called the meeting a “good step in gaining the trust of the region.”

“It is not a Fort Lee issue, it is a regional issue,’’ he said of the decision to abruptly close several lanes leading to the bridge from the riverside Bergen County community. “We’re content at the moment.”

But that’s not the case for residents and merchants, some who came out to see the governor as he emerged from borough hall on Main Street.

Stan Helfeld, a 41-year-resident of the borough called the revelations of the last few days “a new low in politics.

“I think he (Christie) did the politically correct thing. The problem is in the old days, politicians attacked each other or their record, now they’re involving innocent commuters who were affected,” Helfeld said. “This isn’t over. The press won’t let it be over and the Democrats won’t let it be over.

“Even if he didn’t know about it, he’s still responsible,” he said.

Michael Klein, a lifelong resident of 46 years, said he came out to borough hall to “support the mayor, not the governor.”

“I’d like to hear him say I’m sorry for what happened,” Klein said. “He said he didn’t know and I have to take him at his word.”

But Klein said if the paper trail proves the governor had knowledge of the shut down, then he should “resign tonight.”

The governor had little to say on the way out of borough hall to media or residents, except to call it a “warm productive meeting” and said he’s “working to regain the trust of the borough’s residents.”

Christie got into a black SUV parked on Main Street to a few cheers from pockets of people standing across the street from borough hall.

At the Binghamton Bagel Cafe and Bing’s Burgers, a block away from borough hall, owner Debbie Minuto and her employees said both of their businesses suffered during the September bridge shutdown.

“It hurt our deliveries, people didn’t come in,” said Minuto. “There should be some restitution to residents and businesses hurt. A woman died, there is no repayment for her.”

Minuto said the governor has to do a little more than just issue a verbal apology.

“Maybe some community service or a project for Fort Lee or some funding,” she suggested.

Deliveryman Yung Chang said it was impossible to make deliveries during those days.

“That day was ridiculous,” he said. “That side (of town) was gridlocked.”